[24] (1977) 180 CLR 266, 283 (Lord Simon of Glaisdale, Viscount Dilhorne and Lord Keith of Kinkel) ('BP Refinery').

Court of Appeal (Vic)|2024-06-28|Before: Leish JA, Niall JA

The application for leave to appeal should be granted, the appeal allowed and the orders made by the County Court should be set aside. In their place, there should be judgment for the defendants.

[1] Southstar Homes Pty Ltd v Form8 Constructions Pty Ltd & Ors [2023] VCC 1420, [122]-[123], [128]-[129] (Judge Cosgrave) ('Reasons').

[2] Amended statement of claim dated 11 July 2023, [17]-[18].

[24] (1977) 180 CLR 266, 283 (Lord Simon of Glaisdale, Viscount Dilhorne and Lord Keith of Kinkel) ('BP Refinery').

[25] Reasons, [80], citing Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337, 346 (Mason J); [1982] HCA 24 ('Codelfa').

[42] Ibid [124], citing the New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (Clarendon Press, 4th ed, 1993).

[51] Proposed Ground 2 on the application for leave to appeal.

[52] Servcorp WA Pty Ltd v Perron Investments Pty Ltd [2016] WASCA 79; (2016) 50 WAR 226, 244 [89] (Buss JA, Martin CJ and Murphy JA agreeing); [2016] WASCA 79 ('Servcorp'), citing MSAS Cargo International Pty Ltd v Agfa-Gevaert Ltd [2000] VSCA 197, [17] (Brooking JA, Charles and Batt JJA agreeing).

[54] Mann v Paterson Constructions Pty Ltd [2019] HCA 32; (2019) 267 CLR 560, 579-81 [19]-[24] (Kiefel CJ, Bell and Keane JJ), 592-3 [62]-[64] (Gageler J); [2019] HCA 32.

[55] [2015] HCA 37; (2015) 256 CLR 104, 116-7 [46]-[51]; [2015] HCA 37. See similarly Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd [2017] HCA 12; (2017) 261 CLR 544, 551 [16]-[17] (Kiefel, Bell and Gordon JJ); [2017] HCA 12.

[56] Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; (2014) 251 CLR 640, 656 [35] (French CJ, Hayne, Crennan and Kiefel JJ); [2014] HCA 7 ('Woodside').

[57] Codelfa (1982) 149 CLR 337, 350 (citing Reardon Smith Line Ltd v Hansen-Tangen [1976] 1 WLR 989, 995-6 (Lord Wilberforce)), 352 (Mason J); [1982] HCA 24. See also Sir Anthony Mason, 'Opening Address' (2009) 25 Journal of Contract Law 1, 3.

[58] Woodside [2014] HCA 7; (2014) 251 CLR 640, 656 [35] (French CJ, Hayne, Crennan and Kiefel JJ); [2014] HCA 7.

[59] Ibid 656-7 [35] (French CJ, Hayne, Crennan and Kiefel JJ).

[60] Codelfa (1982) 149 CLR 337, 352 (Mason J); [1982] HCA 24. See also Sir Anthony Mason, 'Opening Address' (2009) 25 Journal of Contract Law 1, 3.

[61] Woodside [2014] HCA 7; (2014) 251 CLR 640, 657 [35] (French CJ, Hayne, Crennan and Kiefel JJ); [2014] HCA 7, citing Codelfa (1982) 149 CLR 337, 350 (Mason J); [1982] HCA 24, in turn citing Reardon Smith Line Ltd v Hansen-Tangen [1976] 1 WLR 989, 995-6 (Lord Wilberforce).

[62] Codelfa (1982) 149 CLR 337, 352 (Mason J); [1982] HCA 24; Reardon Smith Line Ltd v Hansen-Tangen [1976] 1 WLR 989, 995-6 (Lord Wilberforce).

[63] Woodside [2014] HCA 7; (2014) 251 CLR 640, 657 [35] (French CJ, Hayne, Crennan and Kiefel JJ); [2014] HCA 7, citing Re Golden Key Ltd [2009] EWCA Civ 636, [28] (Arden LJ).

[64] Woodside [2014] HCA 7; (2014) 251 CLR 640, 657 [35] (French CJ, Hayne, Crennan and Kiefel JJ); [2014] HCA 7, citing Zhu v Treasurer (NSW) [2004] HCA 56; (2004) 218 CLR 530, 559 [82]; [2004] HCA 56.

[65] Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd [1973] HCA 36; (1973) 129 CLR 99, 109 (Gibbs J); [1973] HCA 36.

[66] Wilkie v Gordian Runoff Ltd [2005] HCA 17; (2005) 221 CLR 522, 529 [16] (Gleeson CJ, McHugh, Gummow and Kirby JJ); [2005] HCA 17.

[67] (1977) 180 CLR 266, 283 (Lord Simon of Glaisdale, Viscount Dilhorne and Lord Keith of Kinkel).

[68] Servcorp [2016] WASCA 79; (2016) 50 WAR 226, 244 [89] (Buss JA, Martin CJ and Murphy JA agreeing); [2016] WASCA 79.

[69] Codelfa (1982) 149 CLR 337, 346 (Mason J); [1982] HCA 24.

[71] BP Refinery (1977) 180 CLR 266, 283-5 (Lord Simon of Glaisdale, Viscount Dilhorne and Lord Keith of Kinkel), citing Shirlaw v Southern Foundries (1926) Ltd [1939] 2 KB 206, 227 (McKinnon LJ); cf Codelfa (1982) 149 CLR 337, 373-5 (Aickin J); [1982] HCA 24.

[73] Argyle Lending Pty Ltd v Lantouris [2022] VSCA 60, [127] (Niall, Walker and Macaulay JJA), citing Macquarie Dictionary (online at 16 March 2022) 'default'; Albert v Grosvenor Investment Co Ltd (1867) LR 3 QB 123.

[74] Bofinger v Kingsway Group Ltd [2009] HCA 44; (2009) 239 CLR 269, 292 [53]; [2009] HCA 44 (Gummow, Hayne, Heydon, Kiefel and Bell JJ).

[76] Realestate.com.au Pty Ltd v Hardingham [2022] HCA 39; (2022) 97 ALJR 40, 64 [114] (Edelman and Steward JJ); [2022] HCA 39.

Feeney v Southstar Homes Pty Ltd [2024] VSCA 153 (28 June 2024)

BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 266; Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337; Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd [2015] HCA 37; (2015) 256 CLR 104; Servcorp WA Pty Ltd v Perron Investments Pty Ltd [2016] WASCA 79; (2016) 50 WAR 226, considered.

Feeney v Southstar Homes Pty Ltd [2024] VSCA 153

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Feeney v Southstar Homes Pty Ltd [2024] VSCA 153 (28 June 2024)